4-20. Skills Required for Global EHS Professionals and Career Prospects

Global EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) professionals are becoming increasingly vital as they manage environmental, workplace health, and safety across an organization. With the rise of sustainable management, ESG investment, and strengthening international regulations, EHS professionals are now required to go beyond simple compliance and become a strategic part of business leadership. This article explains the essential skill sets and career prospects for global EHS talent.

1. Essential Skills

For EHS professionals, understanding international regulations is crucial. They must be able to comprehend and lead a company's response to various global standards, such as ISO 14001, ISO 45001, REACH, RoHS, and OSHA standards. In addition, risk management skills are essential. This includes knowledge of risk assessment and emergency response to proactively prevent workplace accidents and environmental incidents.

Furthermore, communication and cross-cultural understanding are indispensable. In companies with global supply chains, cooperation with employees and suppliers from different countries is vital, making English language proficiency and cultural adaptability highly valued. With the acceleration of digitalization, there is also a strong demand for skills in analyzing EHS data using technologies like IoT and AI.

2. Career Progression

An EHS professional's career path is typically built on two main axes: deepening expertise and expanding management capabilities. Initially, they gain practical experience by handling compliance and safety management as a field specialist, often by participating in ISO and supplier audits. From there, they broaden their global perspective by taking on EHS management roles for overseas projects or international sites. The ultimate goal for many is to become a leader who can advise senior management, such as the head of an EHS department or a sustainability promotion leader.

3. Future Career Outlook

Global EHS professionals are expected to be in even higher demand as they become a core part of ESG management. Talent that can meet disclosure requirements from investors and customers will be key to enhancing corporate value. In particular, their role as a bridge between EHS and sustainability is becoming more prominent. As new challenges like carbon neutrality and human rights due diligence emerge, EHS professionals will have more opportunities to directly contribute to business strategy.

Conclusion

The skills required for a global EHS professional are extensive, ranging from regulatory knowledge and risk management to multicultural adaptability and data analysis. The ideal career path progresses from hands-on work to international project management and finally to advising senior leadership. As their importance continues to grow, EHS professionals will become an indispensable asset for supporting a company's sustainable growth.